At the University of Leicester we have the following facilities for experiments in the area of tribology

Wear testing and Hardness testing

Pin-on-disc wear tester (max load 15kg)
Microhardness tester (load range 25g to 1kg)
Macrohardness tester (load range 1kg to 20kg)
Micro-abrasion tester

Scratch testing

Sheen Scratch Tester

Teer Coatings ST-200 Scratch Tester with High temperature capability (up to 500°C) load range 1-200N, friction monitoring via a PC.  Scratches can be performed with constant load, ramped load or constant load multiple-pass.

Rank Taylor Hobson Surtronic 3+ profilometer with Talyprofile software.

Microscopy

Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) with a Philips XL30 Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope and light element EDX facilities.

The ESEM is capable of operating in conventional high vacuum, low vacuum or full environmental imaging modes.

Detectors fitted to the instrument include:

Everhart-Thornley Secondary Electron Detector
Solid-state Backscattered Electron Detector
Large Field secondary electron detector for operating in low vacuum mode
Gaseous Secondary Electron detector for operating in environmental imaging mode
GSED for SE’s and X-ray work

EDX facilities are an Oxford Instruments ISIS 310 X-ray microanalysis system - with super ultra-thin window which allows detection of elements down to Be.  Speed map X-ray digi mapping and linescans.

The microscope can also be used to perform in-situ experiments using a Deben Micro tensile tester - load capability 300N

We also have a range of optical microscopes with photographic and image analysis facilities

Department of Engineering
University of Leicester
University Road
Leicester
LE1 7RH

Telephone: 0116 252 5692
Fax: 0116 252 2525
E mail: svh2@le.ac.uk
 
 

Author: Sarah Hainsworth, last updated 24/8/2000.